Within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung on November 1 had a meeting with Mr Chris Philp, Minister in charge of Technology and Digital Economy, Ministry of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport UK (DCMS) at the DCMS headquarters in London.

At the meeting, the two Ministers shared strategic orientations, national programs and projects on the development of the digital economy and digital society of each country, as well as initiatives and supporting policies to promote the digital economy. The two sides exchanged possibilities to expand cooperation, enhance coordination among regulatory agencies in digital transformation, digital economy, digital business connections, and jointly develop/organise the implementation of initiatives in the field of digital transformation. They discussed the framework of the UK-ASEAN Digital Partnership Program, the Asia-Pacific Digital Trade Network.

Minister Chris Philp introduced the plan to implement initiatives to expand cooperation on digital economic development with Asia-Pacific and ASEAN, through the UK-ASEAN Digital Innovation Cooperation Program; a Program to support ASEAN in deploying digital trading platforms; standards and architectural framework for smart city construction.

At the event, the two Ministers signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation in the field of the digital economy and digital transformation between the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam and DCMS. This letter of intent recognises the Parties’ common goals, including sharing experiences in building a favourable environment for the digital economy and digital transformation; promoting cooperation between the two countries’ digital enterprises, jointly exploiting opportunities for deeper cooperation in the future of digital technology; and cooperate in implementing the Asia-Pacific Digital Trade Network initiative, the ASEAN-UK Digital Innovation Partnership.

Over the past 10 years, the British Government has implemented many initiatives and supportive policies to promote the digital economy, making the UK a country with a fast-growing digital economy and a large digital business community, with a number of the world’s top tech unicorns.

The two Ministers at the signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent to cooperate on digital transformation and digital economy. 

On the same day, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also had a working session with the UK Association of Technology Businesses (TechUK) and the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC). Here, TechUK and UKABC introduced plans and initiatives to develop the digital business community, promote digital innovation, build a favourable environment for digital startups, as well as international cooperation programs, and expand partnerships with countries and regions, especially Asia-Pacific and ASEAN.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that cooperation between the two countries’ enterprises has great potential and needs to be further promoted, with the supporting and connecting role of both management agencies and related associations in the two countries. From 2022, the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam will consider implementing Vietnam-UK Digital Forums and investment promotion programs.

Source: UK - ASEAN Business Council